Welcome to the Aquashella Guppy Contest!

The Aquashella Guppy Contest shines a spotlight on one of the most beloved fish in the hobby—celebrating the incredible diversity, color, and personality of guppies on a national stage.

Known for their dazzling tails and endless variety, guppies are judged on pattern, size, structure, and overall presentation—making this contest as competitive as it is captivating.

Event Location & Dates

The 2026 Aquashella Guppy Contest will take place during:

September 12th & 13th, 2026
AQUASHELLA NEW JERSEY – NEW JERSEY CONVENTION CENTER
97 Sunfield Ave, Edison NJ 08837

Throughout the weekend, every entry will be displayed in its own show aquarium, giving spectators the opportunity to appreciate the beauty and detail of each fish up close. From bold, striking show guppies to carefully cultivated strains with intricate fin designs, this contest showcases the best that dedicated breeders and hobbyists have to offer.

Competitors vie for top honors awarded by expert judges, along with exciting recognition—including a cash prize and the coveted People’s Choice Award, where attendees select their favorite entry.

Whether you are competing or simply admiring, the Aquashella Guppy Contest is a vibrant celebration of the artistry, skill, and joy of guppy keeping.

Guppy Show Classes for Entry

All entries must be shown in pairs (male & female) unless otherwise noted.

Class 1: Large Tail Types – Solid
(Delta, Veil, Halfmoon – solid tail color)

Class 2: Large Tail Types – Variegated
(Delta, Veil, Halfmoon – variegated tail color)

Class 3: Sword Tail Types
(Single, Top, Bottom, or Double Sword – any color)

Class 4: Small Tail Types
(Round, Spade, Spear, Pintail – any color)

Class 5: Endlers

Class 6: Matched Males
(Two males of the same type)

Registration, Fees, Acceptance & Deadlines

Pre-registration of show fish is required to reserve tank space.

All entries must be submitted through the Aquashella event registration webpage and must include the official Guppy Show Entry Form.

Registration Deadline:
New Jersey – Tuesday, September 8th, 2026 at 1:00 PM

Entries are accepted on a first come, first served basis. Space is limited and registration will close once capacity is reached.

Entry Fee

• $5 per entry
• If 6 entries or more ($30 total paid contest entry); then entrant also receives a Saturday, and Sunday Daily Aquashella Event pass to enjoy the event during open hours
  • Entries do not grant event access, event access must be purchased separately unless minimum entry criteria is met – note during checkout, the discount is applied at the final purchase summary page before you hit “Ok, charge me that amount”, so trust the system, and push through!

Entry fees are non-refundable once accepted.

   Only 48 show tank spaces are available.
Entries are accepted on a first come, first served basis. Once capacity is reached, registration will close. 

Judging & Awards

Judging will take place on Saturday, by qualified and experienced judges appointed by the contest operating committee.

Guppies will be evaluated based on:

Size & Development
Fish should be ¾ to full adult size. Large-tail types must exhibit proper fin development and structure. Females must be full-bodied and appropriately matched.

Condition
Fish must be healthy, free of deformities, torn fins, or disease.

Color & Pattern
Entries must clearly display the correct color intensity and pattern for their class.

Deportment
Fish should be active and visible in the tank.

Matched Males (Class 6)
Both males must match closely in size, body color, fin color, and shape.

Winners will be announced on Sunday during the exhibition.
Awards include judge-selected placements, a cash prize, and the People’s Choice Award selected by attendees.

Auction Option

Entries may be:

• Entered into the auction (donation or 70/30 split in favor of the seller), or
• Picked up by the exhibitor at show closing.

Auction fish will be removed and bagged by the Show Committee.

Fish cannot be shipped back to exhibitors.

Pickup & Unclaimed Entries

All entries must be removed at:

4:00 PM on Sunday

Entries not claimed by show closing will become the property of the Show Committee unless prior arrangements have been made.

Show Conditions

The contest will provide:

• Individual show aquariums
• Treated water
• Covered tanks

Show tanks will be:

• Bare bottom
• No lighting
• No filtration or air
• No heaters permitted
• Maintained at normal room temperature

All entries are exhibited at the owner’s risk. The event organizers are not responsible for loss or damage during the exhibition

Submit Your Entry

Reserve your tank space early — availability is limited and fills quickly.

Submit your entry for the 2026 Aquashella Guppy Contest and showcase your finest fish on a national stage.

Shipments of New Jersey contest entries will be accepted at the following address between Wednesday, September 9th, 2026 and Friday, September 11th, 2026 (NO EARLY or LATE SHIPMENTS ALLOWED):
New Jersey Convention Center, 97 Sunfield Ave, Edison NJ 08837
ATTN Grant Eder / Aquashella Guppy Contest